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How do I search for information on the Internet?

The Internet contains millions and millions of webpages. Unless the specific Uniform Resource Locator (URL) associated with the site you are trying to find is known, most people use a tool called a “search engine” to help them find it. A URL is the Wide World Web (www) address for the site. Search engines use keywords or phrases to find web sites that contain the information for which they are looking. There are a number of
search engines available on the Internet such as Google and Yahoo (e.g., www.google.com and www.yahoo.com).
Most search engines use Boolean operators for their searches. Boolean operators (e.g., AND, OR, NOT, etc.) provide instructions to the search engines as to which keywords you want your results to include or exclude. For example, if you were looking for information on apples and oranges, “apples AND oranges.” Your results would be limited to sites that contained the words “apples and oranges.” If you entered “apples OR oranges,” your results would include sites containing either the word “apples” or “oranges.” Search engines also allow you to use an asterisk (wildcard) in place of letters. You can usually find some advanced search capabilities on search engine sites that allow you to narrow the scope of your search to certain file formats; sites that were updated within a certain date range, etc. Note that these are just a few tips to help you in your quest for information on the Wide World Web. The Pandia Search Central at http://www.pandia.com is a site dedicated to search engines and productive Internet searching. This site offers a “search tutorial” that provides more information on how to navigate the Wide World Web. Also, check your community education centers, libraries, and local colleges and universities for computer classes. Many offer ones specifically on using the Internet.